Martha Randolph lived like she hugged Martha Randolph embraced life like she hugged — tightly, as if she’d never let go. When she finally did let go of life on Nov. 26, 2012, she was doing what she loved. Martha died in Palmer while visiting her daughter and son-in-law, Vicki and Kent Kluever. She had traveled there on the ferry (she loved riding the ferry), not allowing her physical problems to keep her from doing what she wanted. Martha, who suffere...

Another Day in Paradise: Change is our only constantOne of the great blessings of living in this paradise we call Kodiak is change. We watch the seasons change. We go from wet and cold winter to wet and chilly spring; to wet and coo. summer; to wet and chilly fall. About the only thing that changes in our wet is the form it takes. Sometimes it’s snow, sometimes it’s ice, sometimes it’s rain, and sometimes it’s sea spray. Occasionally, okay, regularly, it’s driven b...

Tapestry: Icons topic of Dunlop presentationThe history and theology of icons will be the topic of a presentation by Dr. Bea Dunlop, St. Herman’s Seminary patristics professor, at the Baranov Museum, Wednesday, Jan 23, at 7 p.m. The free lecture is part of the Museum’s exhibit featuring old icons donated by former post master, William Lamme. The icons will be on display during the museum’s Family Day on Saturday, Jan. 19th. Dunlop will take the audience thr...

Another Day in Paradise: Holiness in the shadow of graceI am one of those people who read one book at a time. It probably has something to do with my attention span. If I try to read more than one at a time, I usually end up weaving a twisted thread from one into the other, until eventually, it’s more like reading one book. My mind may finally get its full grasp on the storyline, but the line that it grasps is usually a convoluted amalgam of both that may or may not re...

Tapestry: Boyhood friends keep in touchKodiak Island is a place where deep friendships are forged, and where friends long separated by time and space reunite to reminisce about their experiences. Neil Malutin, Jay Baldwin and James Brisbane, now in their 40s, recently got together to talk about the fun they had as youngsters on the Kodiak Island. During their visit they had their picture taken in the boat harbor, in some way replicating a picture that ...

Another Day in Paradise: New year, new opportunitiesI sometimes wonder whether the media’s fascination with a new year and resolutions is because writers are actually interested, because they want the starting point of marking failures, or whether they are like so many and are just stuck in a rut. I think it’s probably the latter. I remember listening to a great speaker once who stated that a rut was “just another grave with both ends open.” It’s an apt description...

Another Day in Paradise: Rejoice, rejoice, it’s ChristmasIt happens to us all. You can even admit that it happens to you sometimes. We get busy in the midst of activity that seems to drive our purpose and somewhere in the midst we stop and have to refocus — “What was I doing?” It’s easy to get sidelined when we’re tired. Activity becomes activity and begins to operate without direction. Maybe it happens to storms too. Maybe that’s why the snow missed us. Why am I bringi...

New son is priceless Christmas gift for Kodiak momHis name is now officially Jimmy Luke Sunday Rohrer, and this 9-year-old boy from Uganda is greater than any other Christmas gift his adoptive mother, Debbie Rohrer, has received. Life is different now. With her schedule of work, church and other activities, Rohrer must consider how her new son fits in. “Life revolves around Jimmy now,” Rohrer said. The adoption was finalized Dec. 10 in a Kodiak court. In Uganda, ...

Another Day in Paradise: A masterpiece in progressThe weather this week has created some stunning masterpieces as the sun rises and falls. The sunrise Tuesday morning was especially beautiful from the roadside of Mission Beach. I am making that judgment based upon the number of cars that stopped and took pictures as the purple, reds, oranges, and yellows cast their shadows against the white and gray clouds and glowed in their finest array. I am also grateful for ...

Like Rudolph and Silent Night, Currier and Ives is becoming a traditionLike some of our favorite holiday songs, the annual Currier and Ives is becoming a Christmas tradition. The Kodiak Baptist Mission and St. Innocent's Academy-sponsored event has become so popular, that people plan their Christmas activities around it. This year the event is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 16, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Mission Pavilion on Mission Road. Some of the festivities will take place in the new...